China: world’s largest building opens

2013-07-12Building applications

The New Century Global Center in Chengdu, in Sichuan in western China, is part of a recently developed area known as Tainfu New District. The Center, which is 500 meters long, 400 meters wide and 100 meters high, also has its own Japanese-designed artificial sun, which will shine 24 hours a day.

The New Century Global Center has a water park called Paradise Island with an “indoor beach.”

At 500 meters long, 400 meters wide and 100 meters high, the New Century Global Center in Chengdu, in Sichuan, western China, can hold 20 Sydney Opera Houses or three Pentagons, according to local authorities. The colossal structure, which opened 28 June under the management of Exhibition and Travel Group, has its own businesses, offices, shopping malls, theatres, two five-star hotels, a skating rink and even a water park called Paradise Island with an “indoor beach.” The New Century Global Center also boasts a faux Mediterranean village.The exterior of the new mega-structure is shaped like a wave, while the interior has a marine theme, despite the fact that the nearest ocean is some 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) away. The centre also has its own Japanese-designed artificial sun, which will shine 24 hours a day.The building forms the centrepiece of a recently developed area known as Tainfu New District on the outskirts of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan. Like many Chinese megacities, this hub of 14 million is rapidly expanding, with a growing subway system and a new airport planned for 2020.Chengdu’s GDP reached 800 billion RMB (USD 130.48 billion) by the end of 2012, according to state media, ranking it third among China’s sub-provincial cities.And Chengdu’s expansion plans are far from over. In fact, the Chengdu Contemporary Arts Center, designed by award-winning British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, boasts its own impressive list of features, including an opera house,...

At 500 meters long, 400 meters wide and 100 meters high, the New Century Global Center in Chengdu, in Sichuan, western China, can hold 20 Sydney Opera Houses or three Pentagons, according to local authorities. The colossal structure, which opened 28 June under the management of Exhibition and Travel Group, has its own businesses, offices, shopping malls, theatres, two five-star hotels, a skating rink and even a water park called Paradise Island with an “indoor beach.” The New Century Global Center also boasts a faux Mediterranean village.The exterior of the new mega-structure is shaped like a wave, while the interior has a marine theme, despite the fact that the nearest ocean is some 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) away. The centre also has its own Japanese-designed artificial sun, which will shine 24 hours a day.The building forms the centrepiece of a recently developed area known as Tainfu New District on the outskirts of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan. Like many Chinese megacities, this hub of 14 million is rapidly expanding, with a growing subway system and a new airport planned for 2020.Chengdu’s GDP reached 800 billion RMB (USD 130.48 billion) by the end of 2012, according to state media, ranking it third among China’s sub-provincial cities.And Chengdu’s expansion plans are far from over. In fact, the Chengdu Contemporary Arts Center, designed by award-winning British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, boasts its own impressive list of features, including an opera house, theatre and museum.